Statement on Eric Garner

Eric Garner was killed during an altercation with police officers, after a police officer held him in a chokehold, in violation of Police Department policy. The medical examiner ruled Eric Garner’s death a homicide, resulting from the chokehold and the compression of his chest by police officers. In the face of those facts, the grand jury’s failure to find cause to indict in the death of Eric Garner is deeply disappointing, perplexing, and raises troubling questions about our criminal justice system and whether it can in fact work equally for every resident of our city and state. We welcome the just-announced federal investigation even as we deeply rue its necessity.

As Young Democrats we continue to believe that activism and political involvement are essential to achieve the reforms our criminal justice system needs. It is our responsibility as citizens to fight injustice.